Pelvic floor symptoms and lifestyle factors in older women

Abstract

Objectives: To measure the prevalence of pelvic floor symptoms in noncare-seeking older women and the association between symptoms and lifestyle factors. Methods: Women enrolled at one site of the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Therapy clinical trial completed a questionnaire, modified from the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory, on bladder, bowel, and prolapse symptoms. Individual symptoms and symptom groups were examined in a cross-sectional analysis. Results: In the 297 women who participated, mean age was 68.2 years, mean body mass index (BMI) was 30.2 kg/m2, and median vaginal parity was 3. The median number of symptoms endorsed was 3 (range 0-18). The most prevalent symptoms were stress urinary incontinence (51.2%), urge urinary incontinence (49.2%), urinary frequency (29.0%), straining for bowel movements (25.0%), a sense of incomplete bowel movements (34.8%), and involuntary loss of gas (33.0%). The symptom groups most frequently endorsed were stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, obstructive voiding, and obstructive colorectal groups (≥1 symptom per group in 51.2%, 61.3%, 40.8%, and 48.3%, respectively). In analyses adjusted for age, BMI, caffeine ingesting, smoking, and exercise, older women more frequently reported incomplete bladder emptying (adjusted OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3, 9.2), weak urinary stream (adjusted OR 6.4,95% CI 2.0,20.0), intermittent urinary stream (adjusted OR 4.0,95% CI 1.6,10.4), and a feeling of incomplete bowel movements (adjusted OR 2.7,95% CI 1.2,5.9). Women who exercised weekly had less fecal urgency (adjusted OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2, 0.8). Coffee drinking was associated with difficulty emptying the bladder (adjusted OR 8.6, 95% CI 1.4, 55.0) and weak stream (adjusted OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.5, 19.0). Conclusions: Pelvic floor symptoms, especially urinary incontinence and irritative and obstructive urinary and bowel symptoms, are common in older women. Some symptoms are associated with potentially modifiable lifestyle factors. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.